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Algiers Traffic Calming And Safety Committee Meeting 5.20.24

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Draft Minutes

Present on Zoom: Sheila Morse, Barry Aleshnick

Present in person: Eric Morse, Dan Zumbruski, Colin Bratton, Bill Jewell, Erika Elder

  1. Call to Order by Eric at 10:42 a.m.
  2. Recognition of Public
  3. Demonstration Project discussion
    Erika: Grant opportunities upcoming. VTrans recommends a small-scale bike and pedestrian grant to connect west side sidewalk. Eric: stop signs are the only solution.  Discussion about three-way stop signs. Sheila: Demonstration project is a good interim step. Define the problem as pedestrian safety. A sidewalk could go from Rt 5 bridge to the Tontine, provisional crosswalk across Guilford Center Rd., continuing up past Richmonds with crosswalk from there to the store, with warning signs. This doesn’t impede residence lawns on east side.  Colin: Brattleboro owns the road so has more leeway. State owns the road, they call the shots. Demonstration project a good start. MUTCD guidelines apply. Changes to MUTCD may make things easier. Eric: Three-way stop turned down, maybe only 2 stop signs – Guilford Center and northbound Rt5. Adjust our request to VTrans  Colin: Major/minor road stop signs discouraged. Eric: Northbound traffic is the hazard. Bring it up again to VTrans. Sheila: Another problem: sidewalks and crosswalks important for pedestrians. People in that area need to feel safe crossing road in 2 locations. Public support will be needed. Discussion about possible signage (flashimg lights) and road additions (speed hump).  Colin: Need sidewalks for crosswalks. Eric: East side has drainage problems sidewalk could solve. Colin: Demonstration section is more sympathetic. Bill: How much farther up can we go? Copy minutes to Mollie Burke and Sarasara Coffey. Bill: Broad Brook Road – can’t see south. If the Store Parking Lot? Barry: Parking lot entrance could be moved? Discussion about making section Town road. Colin: Chittenden has a cost-benefit analysis on doing this. Dan: would add extra person, extra truck. Eric: Explore this to show it’s inferior option. Dan: Get drivers to slow down. Bill: People slow down at the radar sign, then speed up again. Dan: State would need to move the speed limit sign with the radar sign. Barry: Can speed limit change be part of demo project proposal? Colin: Articulate issues, why it matters. First step will be a letter to VTrans demonstration section. Erika to draft the letter. 
  4. Traffic Study by Windham Regional Commission
    Colin: 1111 permit WRC can get counters up June-July. Two on Rt. 5 closer to intersection, and GCR. 
  5. Scoping Study, grant possibilities
    Bike & Pedestrian grant is 80-20 split. If used for a scoping study Town match would be $10,000. Colin: think about other projects – study for Algiers rather than larger amount for Guilford Center path might be more palatable. Eric recommended trying to get funding for scoping study.  Bill: moved, Erika seconded. All were in favor. Motion passed. Colin: Another possibility is TAP grant, due in the fall.
  6. Consider if there are other issues to be addressed
    Erika: Is third Monday for meetings working? Everyone agreed. Dan: Alternative route for Guilford Center path on private land, avoid the bridge on Center Road
  7. To be done:
    1. Erika will draft a letter to Matt at VTrans detailing history and options.
    2. Bring Scoping Study Grant to selectboard
    3. Colin schedules WRC Traffic Study
  8. Adjournment
    Sheila moved to adjourn and Erika seconded. All were in favor. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 11:26 a.m.